Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This paperweight was created by Baccarat Glassworks, a company founded in France in the 18th century. Paperweights, like this one, became popular in the 19th century. They were luxury objects, made with great skill using millefiori techniques to suspend complex floral motifs within clear glass. Baccarat and other glassworks were part of a wider culture of artisanal production in France, fostered by institutions and patronage networks. They originally produced window and mirror glass, but soon began to focus on high-end decorative glass. The French monarchy’s support of this industry helped establish Paris as a center for luxury goods. Objects like this paperweight, seemingly innocent, can tell us a lot about the social and economic history of their time. Careful study of company records and design patterns can further illuminate how tastes in luxury goods evolved, and how French glassworks like Baccarat maintained their reputation for excellence.